HR0061

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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the House of Representatives of the 
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State of Illinois are pleased to congratulate Steven M. Powell, 
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Secretary-Treasurer of Local 881 of the United Food and 
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Commercial Workers Union and resident of Mundelein, Illinois, 
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on his election to serve the UFCW International Union and its 
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Executive Board as an International Vice President on January 
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29, 2009; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Powell began his career in the Labor Movement 
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in 1985 as a Union Representative with Local 881 UFCW after 
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graduating from Lake Forest College in Lake Forest, Illinois, 
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having earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Business and 
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Political Science;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Powell helped Local 881 gain a strong voice in 
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the Illinois political arena as he championed the fight to 
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protect members' rights in the workplace in his capacity as 
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Legislative Liaison , Assistant Director of Operations, and 
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Executive Vice President before his election to 
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Secretary-Treasurer in 1999;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, The UFCW International Union in Washington D.C. 
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selected Mr. Powell to serve as Director of Political Affairs, 
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and in that role he developed numerous educational and 
 


 






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political programs for local and regional UFCW affiliates in 
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the U.S. and Puerto Rico in support of issues and candidates 
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working to advance the interests of working families; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Powell has served as the Illinois State 
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Central Committeeman in the 8th Congressional District since 
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2002, was an elected Trustee for the Village of Mundelein from 
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1997 to 2001, and has been a member of the Democratic National 
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Committee since 2005; and

 
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    WHEREAS, In addition to his duties with the Local Union, 
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Mr. Powell serves as Trustee for the UFCW Midwest Health 
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Benefits Fund, Chairman of the Indiana Calumet Region Health 
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and Welfare Fund, Trustee for the UFCW Local 655 Health and 
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Welfare Fund, and on the Board of Directors of the 
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International Foundation of Employee Benefits;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, His charitable work includes service as a Board 
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Member of the Glenwood School for Boys and Girls-South Campus; 
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and he volunteers his time to organizations, including the 
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NAACP, United Latinos of the UFCW, Coalition of Labor Union 
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Women, UFCW Women's Network, and the Leukemia & Lymphoma 
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Society;

and
 
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    WHEREAS, Mr. Powell most recently led the efforts of the 
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United Food and Commercial Workers International Union to 
 


 






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mobilize and educate affiliated locals
and its members to help 
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elect Barack Obama President of the United States during the 
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2008 elections; and

 

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    WHEREAS, 1.3 million men and women across the United States 
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and Canada are proud to call the United Food and Commercial 
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Workers their union in a range of industries including retail 
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food, meatpacking and poultry, food processing and 
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manufacturing, and retail stores; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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congratulate Mr. Steven M. Powell on a successful career in the 
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labor movement through his contributions to the men and women 
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of the United Food and Commercial Workers representing many 
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backgrounds and walks of life, but who come together as the 
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UFCW for the shared goal of achieving the American Dream to 
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protect and improve the livelihoods of all workers; and be it 
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further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Steven M. Powell and to the membership of the 
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United Food and Commercial Workers International Union as a 
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symbol of his contributions to the American labor movement.